Rotating seal follow-up improvement device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024547261
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-02-24
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-29
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to a rotary seal compliance enhancer, for example, a rotary seal compliance enhancer for a rotary seal assembly. [Background technology]
[0002] Machines often include transmissions, engines, pumps, and / or other machinery that include one or more rotating components, such as shafts. To maintain the performance of the machine, lubrication is required for the one or more rotating components. A shaft assembly (e.g., a crankcase or similar assembly) typically contains a lubricant, such as oil, that provides lubrication to the one or more rotating components, and the shaft assembly typically includes a rotating seal to prevent leakage of the lubricant during operation of the one or more rotating components. However, mechanical forces associated with the operation of the one or more rotating components often cause areas of the rotating seal to undergo wear and plastic deformation, resulting in premature failure of the rotating seal and leakage of lubricant from the shaft assembly. This can result in damage to one or more rotating components, necessitating replacement of the rotating seal and necessitating the shutdown of the machine for repairs.
[0003] Canadian Patent Application Publication No. 2,249,916 (Publication '916) discloses a hinge member connected to the exterior surface of a rigid case and to a gasket. The gasket is bonded directly to the outer edge of the hinge member. The hinge member is torus shaped in plan and is radially flexible, allowing the seal element to conform to the eccentric shaft. However, fitting the seal element circumferentially around its outer edge to another hinge member for a mating connection can increase wear in the area contacting the rotating parts.
[0004] The slider of the present disclosure solves one or more of the above problems and / or other problems in the art. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In some embodiments, a rotary seal assembly associated with a rotating component includes an outer casing, an inner casing, a rotary seal connected to the outer casing and the inner casing, and a compliance enhancer, wherein a section of the rotary seal includes a heel portion and a toe portion, the rotary seal is configured to contact the rotating component via a first surface of the section of the rotary seal during operation of the rotating component, the compliance enhancer is configured to contact a first region of a second surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the toe portion during operation of the rotating component, and the compliance enhancer is configured not to contact a second region of the second surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the heel portion during operation of the rotating component.
[0006] In some embodiments, a rotary seal assembly associated with a rotating component includes a rotary seal including a section with a heel portion and a toe portion, and a compliance enhancer configured to contact a first region of a surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the toe portion during operation of the rotating component, and the compliance enhancer configured to not contact a second region of a surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the heel portion during operation of the rotating component.
[0007] In some embodiments, the compliance enhancing device includes an elastically compliant feature configured to contact a first region of a surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with a toe portion of the section of the rotary seal during operation of the rotating component, and the elastically compliant feature configured to not contact a second region of a surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with a heel portion of the section of the rotary seal during operation of the rotating component. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary housing for a rotating component as described herein. [Figure 2A]1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. [Figure 2B] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. [Figure 2C] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. [Figure 2D] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. [Figure 2E] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. [Figure 2F] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. [Figure 2G] 1A-1C are diagrams of exemplary configurations of rotary seal assemblies described herein associated with a rotating component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] The present disclosure relates to a rotary seal compliance improvement device and is applicable to any machine that uses a rotary seal assembly for a rotating component, for example, the machine may be a construction machine, a marine vehicle, an automobile, a transportation vehicle, or other type of machine.
[0010] 1 is a diagram 100 of an example housing 102, such as for a machine transmission, engine, pump, and / or other machine. A rotating component 104 may rotate (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104) about an axis 106 within an opening 108 (e.g., a bore through which the rotating component 104 passes) associated with the housing 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating component 104 may include a shaft 104-1, one or more wear sleeves 104-2, and / or another component.
[0011] 1 , the housing 102 may have an interior 110 and an exterior 112. The interior 110 may contain a liquid fluid, such as a coolant, transmission fluid, engine oil, hydraulic pump fluid, or other fluid, and the exterior 112 may be exposed to an external environment. Accordingly, the housing 102 may include one or more rotating seal assemblies 114 (described in more detail herein), each configured to prevent transmission of the liquid fluid from the interior 110 to the exterior 112.
[0012] As previously mentioned, Figure 1 is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described in connection with Figure 1.
[0013] 2A-2G are diagrams of an example configuration 200 of a rotating seal assembly 114 described herein. As shown in FIGs. 2A-2G, the rotating seal assembly 114 may include an outer casing 202, an inner casing 204, a rotating seal 206, and a compliance enhancer 208.
[0014] The outer casing 202 and the inner casing 204 may each be constructed of a metal, such as aluminum and / or steel, and configured to hold one or more other components of the rotary seal assembly 114. In some embodiments, the outer casing 202 may have a particular profile (e.g., an L-shaped profile as shown in FIGS. 2A-2G) that defines the inside and outside of the outer casing 202. The inner casing 204 may be configured to be disposed inside the outer casing 202. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2G, the inner casing 204 may have a similar profile (e.g., an L-shaped profile) as the outer casing 202 and be disposed inside the outer casing 202 such that the outside of the inner casing 204 faces the inside of the outer casing 202.
[0015] The inner casing 204 may be connected to the outer casing 202. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2G, an upper section of the inner casing 204 may be connected to an upper section of the outer casing 202 by a press fit. In some embodiments, a space (e.g., a gap) may be formed between the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2G, a space may be formed between a side of the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202.
[0016] The rotating seal 206 may be constructed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The rotating seal 206 may be connected to at least one of the outer casing 202 or the inner casing 204. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2G, a portion of the rotating seal 206 may be disposed in a space formed between the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202. Thus, the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202 may clamp a portion of the rotating seal 206 such that the rotating seal 206 remains connected to the inner casing 204 and / or the outer casing 202 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104).
[0017] As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2G , the rotating seal 206 may include a section 210 including a heel portion 212 and a toe portion 214. The heel portion 212 may be associated with a bend in the rotating seal 206 and / or may be closer to the outer casing 202 and / or the inner casing 204 than the toe portion 214. The toe portion 214 may be associated with an end of the rotating seal 206 (e.g., an end that is not connected to the outer casing 202 and / or the inner casing 204). The toe portion 214 may not be associated with a bend in the rotating seal 206 and / or may be farther from the outer casing 202 and / or the inner casing 204 than the heel portion 212. In some embodiments, the rotating seal 206 may include multiple grooves 216 (e.g., that enhance the sealing properties of the rotating seal 206) located at different locations on a bottom surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206.
[0018] In some embodiments, the rotating seal 206 may be configured to contact the rotating component 104 (e.g., including the shaft 104-1 and / or the wear sleeve 104-2, as described herein in connection with FIG. 1 ) via a bottom surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206, such as during operation of the rotating component 104 (e.g., when the rotating component 104 rotates about the axis 106). In this manner, the plurality of grooves 216 contact the rotating component 104.
[0019] The compliance enhancer 208 may be constructed of rubber (e.g., molded rubber), plastic, metal, or similar materials. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2G, the compliance enhancer may be a monolithic component. The compliance enhancer 208 may be connected to at least one of the outer casing 202 or the inner casing 204. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D and 2F-2G, a portion of the compliance enhancer 208 (e.g., a top section and a side section) may contact the inside of the inner casing 204. A portion of the compliance enhancer 208 may be connected to the inside of the inner casing 204 by one or more mechanical fasteners, adhesive materials, and / or press-fit connections in other examples. As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2D, and 2G, a portion of the compliance enhancer 208 may discontinuously contact the inside of the inner casing 204 (e.g., not contact the inside corners of the inner casing 204). Alternatively, as shown in Figures 2B, 2C, and 2F, a portion of the compliance enhancer 208 may be in continuous contact with the inside of the inner casing 204 (e.g., completely contacting an inside corner of the inner casing 204). As another example, as shown in Figure 2E, a portion of the compliance enhancer 208 may be disposed between the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202, such as by being disposed within a space formed between the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202. Thus, the inner casing 204 and the outer casing 202 may clamp a portion of the compliance enhancer 208 (and a portion of the rotating seal 206) such that the compliance enhancer 208 remains connected to the inner casing 204 and / or the outer casing 202 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104).
[0020] In some embodiments, the compliance enhancer 208 may be configured to contact a first region 218 of an upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104). For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2G, the compliance enhancer 208 may include a resiliently compliant feature 220 that may be configured to contact a first region 218 of an upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104). In some embodiments, the compliance enhancer 208 and / or the resiliently compliant feature 220 may be configured not to contact a first region 218 of an upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 when the rotating component 104 is not operating.
[0021] 2A-2G, the elastically compliant feature 220 may be a lip (e.g., of any particular shape or size) or similar structure configured to exert at least one amount of force on a first region 218 associated with the toe portion 214 of the upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206. For example, the elastically compliant feature 220 may be configured to flexibly bounce during operation of the rotating component 104 such that the elastically compliant feature 220 may exert a number of different amounts of force on the first region 218 associated with the toe portion 214 of the upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206. Thus, the at least one amount of force exerted by the elastically compliant feature 220 may be within a particular range of force amounts (e.g., greater than or equal to a minimum force and less than or equal to a maximum force associated with optimal performance of the rotating seal 206).
[0022] 2F, the compliance enhancing device 208 includes a spring component 222 (e.g., a coil spring, an extension spring, a retainer spring, or a spring clip, etc.). The spring component 222 may be configured (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104) to contact the elastically compliant feature 220 and resist movement of the elastically compliant feature 220 away from a first region 218 associated with the toe portion 214 of the upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206. For example, the spring component 222 may be configured (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104) such that the elastically compliant feature 220 continuously exerts at least one amount of force on the first region 218 associated with the toe portion 214 of the upper surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206.
[0023] A compliance enhancer 208 contacting a first region 218 of an upper surface of a section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 may cause a corresponding region 224 of a bottom surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 to contact the rotating component 104 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104). For example, when a resiliently compliant feature 220 contacts a first region 218 of an upper surface of a section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214, the corresponding region 224 of a bottom surface of the section 210 of the rotating seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 contacts the rotating component 104 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104).
[0024] Additionally or alternatively, the compliance enhancer 208 may be configured to not contact a second region 226 of an upper surface of the section 210 of the rotary seal 206 associated with the heel portion 212, such as during operation of the rotating component 104. For example, the resiliently compliant feature 220 may be configured to not contact a second region 226 of an upper surface of the section 210 of the rotary seal 206 associated with the heel portion 212 (e.g., during operation of the rotating component 104). Further, the compliance enhancer 208 and / or the resiliently compliant feature 220 may be configured to only contact a first region 218 of an upper surface of the section 210 of the rotary seal 206 associated with the toe portion 214 of the rotary seal 206 (e.g., not contact other regions of the upper surface of the section 210 of the rotary seal 206).
[0025] As mentioned above, FIGS. 2A-2G are provided as one or more examples; other examples may differ from what is described with respect to FIGS. 2A-2G. [Industrial Applicability]
[0026] The disclosed compliance enhancers may be used in any rotating seal assembly associated with a rotating component of a machine. In a typical rotating seal assembly (e.g., without a compliance enhancer), the radial load distribution on the rotating seal of the rotating seal assembly is highest at the heel portion of the section of the rotating seal that contacts the rotating component. This results in a higher wear rate at the heel portion than at the toe portion of the rotating seal section. As a result, uneven wear can cause the toe portion of the section of the rotating seal to be more susceptible to falling out of contact with the rotating component (e.g., due to mechanical forces associated with the motion of the rotating component, such as dynamic runout, shaft-to-bore misalignment, and / or end play), leading to premature failure of the rotating seal (e.g., the inability of the rotating seal to prevent the transmission of fluids associated with the motion of the rotating component).
[0027] The compliance enhancer disclosed herein is configured to contact and exert at least one amount of force on a first region of an upper surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the toe portion. This thus shifts the radial load distribution of the rotary seal, redistributing some of the radial load that would otherwise be applied to the heel portion of the section of the rotary seal to the toe portion of the section of the rotary seal. This reduces the wear rate of the heel portion, increases the wear rate of the toe portion, and causes more uniform wear of the heel and toe portions. In this way, the more uniform wear increases the likelihood that the toe portion of the section of the rotary seal will be in continuous contact with the rotating component, reducing the likelihood of premature failure of the rotary seal. Additionally, the compliance enhancer actively promotes continuous contact of the rotary seal with the rotating component (e.g., the compliance enhancer increases the likelihood that a greater surface area of the section of the rotary seal will be in contact with the rotating component during operation of the rotating component), thereby improving the sealing performance of the rotary seal.
[0028] The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or acquired from practice of the implementations. Furthermore, any of the implementations described herein may be combined unless the foregoing disclosure explicitly indicates why one or more implementations cannot be combined. Even if a particular combination of features is recited in a claim and / or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the various implementations. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend only on one claim, the disclosure of the various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with all other claims in the claim set.
[0029] As used herein, "a," "an," and "set" are intended to include one or more items and can be used interchangeably with "one or more." Additionally, as used herein, the article "the" is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article "the" and can be used interchangeably with "one or more." Additionally, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based at least in part on," unless expressly specified otherwise. Additionally, the term "or" as used herein is intended to be inclusive when used in succession and can be used interchangeably with "and / or" unless expressly specified otherwise (such as when used in combination with "either" or "either only"). Additionally, spatially relative terms, such as "lower," "lower," "bottom," "upper," "upper," and "top," may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass various orientations of apparatus, devices, and / or elements in use or operation in addition to the orientations illustrated in the figures. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptions used herein may be interpreted accordingly.
Claims
1. A rotary seal assembly (114) associated with a rotating component (104), comprising: an outer casing (202); an inner casing (204); a rotating seal (206) connected to the outer casing (202) and the inner casing (204); and a tracking enhancement device (208); the section (210) of the rotary seal (206) includes a heel portion (212) and a toe portion (214); the rotary seal (206) is configured to contact the rotating component (104) during operation of the rotating component (104) via a first surface of a section (210) of the rotary seal (206); the compliance enhancer (208) is configured to contact a first region (218) of a second surface of the section (210) of the rotating seal (206) associated with a toe portion (214) during operation of the rotating component (104); The rotary seal assembly (114) is configured such that the compliance enhancer (208) does not contact a second region (226) of the second surface of the section (210) of the rotary seal (206) associated with a heel portion (212) during operation of the rotating component (104).
2. the compliance enhancer (208) includes a resiliently compliant feature (220); 2. The rotary seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the resiliently compliant feature is configured to contact a first region of a second surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the toe portion during operation of the rotating component.
3. The compliance enhancer (208) includes a resiliently compliant feature (220) and a spring element (222); the resiliently compliant feature (220) is configured to contact a first region (218) of a second surface of the section (210) of the rotary seal (206) associated with a toe portion (214) during operation of the rotating component (104); 3. The rotary seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring element contacts the resiliently compliant feature and is configured to resist movement of the resiliently compliant feature away from a first region of a second surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with a toe portion during operation of the rotating component.
4. The rotating seal assembly (114) of any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the compliance enhancer (208) is connected to the inner casing (204).
5. The rotating seal assembly (114) of any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the compliance enhancer (208) is disposed between the outer casing (202) and the inner casing (204).
6. A tracking improvement device (208), including an elastically compliant feature (220); the resiliently compliant feature (220) is configured to contact a first region (218) of a surface of the section (210) of the rotary seal (206) associated with a toe portion (214) of the section (210) of the rotary seal (206) during operation of the rotating component (104); a compliance enhancing device configured to prevent the resiliently compliant feature from contacting a second region of a surface of the section of the rotary seal, the second region being associated with a heel portion of the section of the rotary seal during operation of the rotating component.
7. the resiliently compliant feature (220) is configured to exert at least one amount of force on a first region (218) of a surface of the section (210) of the rotary seal (206) associated with a toe portion (214); The compliance enhancer (208) of claim 6, wherein the at least one amount of force is within a range of specified amounts of force.
8. 8. The compliance enhancer of claim 6, wherein a resiliently compliant feature contacting a first region of a surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with a toe portion causes a corresponding region of another surface of the section of the rotary seal associated with the toe portion to contact the rotating component during operation of the rotating component.
9. 7. The compliance enhancement device of claim 6, wherein the resiliently compliant feature is configured to avoid contact with any other area of a surface of the section of the rotary seal.
10. further comprising a spring element (222); 7. The compliance enhancement device of claim 6, wherein the spring element is configured to contact the resiliently compliant feature and resist movement of the resiliently compliant feature away from a first region associated with a toe portion of a surface of the section of the rotating seal during operation of the rotating component.